Disposable diaper with improved adhesive closure system

ABSTRACT

A disposable multi-layer diaper is provided which has an improved closure system that enables the diaper to be secured in close conformity around the waist and thighs of an infant. The diaper is rectangular in overall configuration, and includes a porous facing layer at one side thereof, a water-impervious backing layer at the other side thereof, and an absorbent pad sandwiched between the outer layers. The closure means is provided by exposed adhesive areas on the facing layer, which have a length greater than their width, and which are positioned at one end of the diaper adjacent the corners thereof. In one embodiment the adhesive areas are provided by one of the tacky sides of double faced adhesive tape, and in a second embodiment the adhesive areas are provided by an adhesive material that soaks through the facing layer to the backing layer. With either embodiment, when the diaper is placed upon an infant with the ends of the diaper being positioned around the infant&#39;&#39;s waist, the adhesive areas on the facing layer are pressed against an adjacent portion of the backing layer at the opposite end of the diaper to provide a hidden and protected variable length closure that fits snugly around both the waist and the thighs of the infant.

limited States Patent [191 Mesek et al.

[ DISPOSABLE DIAPER WITH IMPROVED ADHESIVE CLOSURE SYSTEM [75]Inventors: Frederick K. Mesek, Downers Grove; Virginia L. Repke, OakForest, both of I11.

[73] Assignee: Johnson & Johnson, New

Brunswick, NJ.

[22] Filed: Sept. 25, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 293,753

Primary ExaminerAldrich F. Medbery [57] ABSTRACT A disposablemulti-layer diaper is provided which has [451 Oct. 8, 1974 an improvedclosure system that enables the diaper to be secured in close conformityaround. the waist and thighs of an infant. The diaper is rectangular inoverall configuration, and includes a porous facing layer at one sidethereof, a water-impervious backing layer at the other side thereof, andan absorbent pad sandwiched between the outer layers. The closure meansis provided by exposed adhesive areas on the facing layer, which have alength greater than their width, and which are positioned at one end ofthe diaper adjacent the corners thereof. In one embodiment the adhesiveareas are provided by one of the tacky sides of double faced adhesivetape, and in a second embodiment the adhesive areas are provided by anadhesive material that soaks through the facing layer to the backinglayer. With either embodiment, when the diaper is placed upon an infantwith the ends of the diaper being positioned around the infants waist,the adhesive areas on the facing layer are pressed against an adjacentportion of the backing layer at the opposite end of the diaper toprovide a hidden and protected variable length closure that fits snuglyaround both the waist and the thighs of the infant.

16 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures DISPOSABLE DIAPER WITH IMPROVED ADHESIVECLOSURE SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The diaper industry has longrecognized the problems associated with the use of so-called safety pinsto secure a diaper upon an infant. Such pins are not only unsafe forboth the baby and the mother, but also are often difficult to forcethrough the diaper material, particularly after an extended period ofuse when the formerly pointed end of the pin tends to become blunt. Theuse of pins has become even a more serious problem with the advent ofdisposable diapers, since the materials used in such diapers often donot have sufficient inherent strength to prevent the pins from tearingout.

Many expedients have been proposed to obviate the necessity of usingpins, and those expedients requiring the use of extraneous fastenerssuch as snaps, zippers, etc. have met with a notable lack of commercialsuccess because they significantly increase the cost of the diaper, andbecause they usually lack the capability of being able to adjust thediaper to fit snugly around the torso of an infant. To obviate theproblems that are inherent in closure systems utilizing such extraneousfasteners, it has long been desired to use an adhesive closure system,and many of such systems have been proposed, as is briefly describedbelow. However, for various reasons, to date none have proven entirelysatisfactory.

One of the most successful adhesive systems that has been developed todate, is that shown in commonly assigned Mesek et a1. U.S. Pat. No.3,612,055 wherein adhesive strips that are adhered to the backing sheetextend laterally outwardly from opposite sides of the diaper at one endthereof, with the exposed areas of the adhesive strips having a releasemember thereon that is readily separable from the adhesive strips. Itwill be appreciated that when a diaper of this type is placed on aninfant, so that one corner of the diaper is positioned adjacent theexposed adhesive area, the diaper can be pulled into snug engagementwith the waist of the infant and the adhesive engaged with theappropriate adjacent portion of the backing sheet to thereby, in effect,provide a closure that is variable in circumference. However, while suchtaping systems provide for a circumferential adjustment about the waistof the infant, they do not provide a means which enable the diaper to beplaced in snug engagement with the thighs of the infant. Also, theadhesive closure is positioned externally of the diaper, so as to beaccessible to the infant who can pull the closure open.

Illustrative forms of other prior art adhesive systems that have beenproposed are disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. to Miller 2,627,858, Le Bolt2,649,858, Duncan et al. 3,180,335 (Re. 26,151), and Torr 3,638,651. Theadhesive systems illustrated in the Miller and Duncan et al. patents areobjectionable in that each utilizes a tape strip that is positionedexternally of the diaper when it is secured in place, so as to beaccessible for opening by an infant. The Le Bolt and Torr adhesivesystems are superior to the Miller and Duncan et al. systems, in thatboth provide internal closures which are not accessible to an infant,but in each case neither closure system provides a lengthwise adjustmentenabling the diaper to be positioned in close fitting engagement aroundthe thighs of the infant. The Le Bolt arrangement has the still furtherdisadvantage of requiring adhesive areas to be adhered to one another,and the Torr arrangement has the still further disadvantage of notproviding a release layer over the adhesive areas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The closure system of the diaper of the presentinvention represents an improvement upon known types of adhesive closuresystems for disposable diapers by providing a means whereby the sides ofthe diaper can be adjustably positioned in close conformity with theinfants thighs, with the ends of the diaper being adjustably positionedin snug engagement around the infants waist. To achieve this, the diaperincludes elongate adhesive areas that face outwardly from the corners ofthe facing layer of the diaper at one end thereof. When the diaper ispositioned around the torso of an infant, and the ends of the diaper arebrought together around the infants waist, the end of the diaperopposite to that having the adhesive areas is positioned beneath andsecured to the opposite end of the diaper by the adhesive areas. Sincethe adhesive areas have a significant legnthwise dimension, a variablelength closure is defined which enables the sides of the diaper toclosely conform to the infants thighs. In this regard, for a smallinfant, the entire length of the adhesive areas would be used to securethe diaper in place, whereas with a relatively large infant, only asmall portion of the adhesive areas need be used. The aforementionedarrangement also provides a means for insuring that the diaper will bepositioned snugly around the infants waist, since the ends of the diapercan be pulled tightly around the infants waist before the adhesive areasare joined to the backing layer.

The improved adhesive closure system of the present invention can beprovided by strips of double faced tape each having one of its tackyfaces adhered to the facing layer, and the other of its tacky facesproviding an adhesive area for bonding to the backing layer. Thisarrangement has particular utility with facing layers formed ofpolyester materials, since these materials have sufficient inherentstrength to withstand stresses imparted to the diaper during use. Forfacing materials having less inherent strength, the present inventioncontemplates that the adhesive areas will be provided by an adhesivematerial that soaks through the facing layer and bonds to the backinglayer. This arrangement takes advantage of the inherent strength of thebacking layer to insure that the adhesive closure means will be secure.

In both of the above-described arrangements, when the diaper is securedin place the closure means is present within the interior of the diaper,and thus is not accessible for opening by an infant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a firstembodiment of the invention, with the diaper being laid out flat;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the invention, withthe diaper being laid out flat;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the diaper of FIG. Isubsequent to its being folded for packaging;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generallyalong line 44 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the diaper of FIG. 1 in the position itassumes when placed upon an infant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS While this invention issusceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in thedrawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments ofthe invention, with the understanding that the present disclosure is tobe considered as an exemplification of the principles of the inventionand is not intended to limit the invention to the embodimentsillustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in theappended claims.

Referring to the drawings, the diaper assembly 10, when fully opened andlaid out flat, comprises a lowermost water-impervious sheet 12 which isrectangular in shape, and an overlying facing layer 16 of fibrousmaterial, which is also rectangular in shape, equal in dimension, andcoterminous with the impervious sheet. While not critical to the presentinvention, the diaper also preferably includes a highly water-absorbentfibrous pad, or batt 14, which is also rectangular in shape, but smallerthan the facing and backing layers and centrally disposed therebetween.The batt 14 may be formed in accordance with the teachings set forth incommonly assigned Mesek et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,612,055. As describedtherein, the batt 14 has a continuous paper-like densified highlycompacted lowermost fibrous layer 18. Densified layer 18 is adhered tothe impervious sheet by bead lines of adhesive 22 substantiallythroughout the interface therebetween. Marginal portions 16b and 12b offacing layer 16 and impervious sheet 12, respectively, which extendperipherally beyond the absorbent pad, are also adhered to each other bybead lines 22.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, moisture impervious sheet12 is formed of polyethylene having a thickness of approximately 0.001inch. The sheet may be smooth, or may be embossed to improve its drapeand feel. Other suitable flexible moistureimpervious sheets may be usedin accordance with the invention, such as, for example, polyethyleneterephthalate sheets having a thickness of about 0.0005 inch.

Batt 14 may be formed of loosely compacted short cellulose fibers, suchas wood pulp fibers, or cotton linters, or mixtures thereof, which areprimarily held together by interfiber bonds requiring no added adhesive,as is known in the art. Briefly, this batt is a low bulk densitycoherent web of loosely compacted cellulose fibers preferably comminutedwood pulp fibers in the form of so-called fluff.

The term short fibers, as used herein, refers to fibers less than about'74 inch in length, in contract to long fibers, or textile length fiberswhich are longer than about inch in length, and generally are betweenabout A and 2% inches in length. The former are substantially lesscostly than the latter. The classification of fibers by length may becarried out by the Clark Classification procedure described in the testmanual of The Technical Association of Pulp and Paper Industry(TAPPl-T233 SU64).

The paper-like densified layer 18 of batt 14 is formed by a slightmoistening of one surface of the batt followed by the application ofpressure thereto. The nature of the batt and of its densified layer andthe method of producing the same are described in U.S. Pat. No.3,017,304, dated Jan. 16, 1962. The thickened densified portions 19 areformed by further compression of batt 14 while it is still moist, aswill hereinafter appear.

The composite density of batt 14, including its densified layer 18,should be above about 0.07 gm./cc and preferably between about 0.10 and0.15 gm./cc. The foregoing density values are applicable to the diaperas produced. In storage and handling, the loft or thickness of the battis increased to some extent, resulting in lowered densities.

The present invention contemplates that several different types offacing layers may be used. For example, the facing layer 16 may be madeup of a mixture of fibers consisting predominantly of inexpensive shortcellulosic fibers such as wood pulp fibers or cotton linters, in amountsof about 75 percent to about 98 percent, the balance being textilelength fibers such as rayon as described in Mesek et al. U.S. Pat. No.3,612,055. In such facing layers, the short fibers are in uniformadmixture with 2 to 25 percent by weight of textile length fibers, suchas 1.5 denier rayon fibers uniformly cut to 1 inch length. The short andlong fibers are randomly and substantially uniformly dispersed andbonded with a bonding agent such as a self-cross-linking acrylicemulsion. The facing web is also treated with a wetting agent topartially counteract the water repellency of the bonding agent and bringthe facing layer to the desired degree of wettability. Facing layers ofthis character are described in greater detail in commonly assignedcopending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 729,784 now U.S. Pat. No.3,663,348, and in the above-mentioned Mesek et al. patent.

Facing layers suitable for use in this invention have fabric weights inthe range of l to 5 0z./yd. and densities less than 0.15 gm./cc.,generally in the range between 0.05 and 0.10 gm./cc. The dry strength ofthe facing layer, for a fabric having a weight of about 1.5 oz./yd. isat least 0.15 lbs./in. of width in the machine direction and at least0.10 lbs./in. of width in the cross direction. The fabrics haveunusually good elongation, loft, softness and drape characteristics incomparison to prior products incorporating any substantial amount ofshort fibers.

The facing layer 16 may also be an apertured nonwoven fabric formed, forexample, in accordance with the teachings in commonly assigned U.S. Pat.Nos. 2,862,251; 3,081,514 and 3,081,515. Briefly, such fabrics areforarninous structures wherein groups or groupings of fibers have beenrearranged from a fibrous nonwoven starting web into positionssurrounding less dense fabric portions by passage of a fluid through thestarting material. The fibers within the groupings are mechanicallyinterlocked, and may be arranged into various patterns, as is wellunderstood by those skilled in the art. A suitable binder may beutilized to help retain the fibers in their rearranged locations, as isalso well understood by those skilled in the art. The fabric can be madeof naturally occuring fibers, synthetic fibers or blends thereof.Typical facing layers made of a polyester material may have a weight of"i6 oz./yd.

It should also be understood that the facing layer may be formed ofnonapertured material, such as a nonwoven isotropic web, sponge, or thelike. In all of the aforementioned facings, the materials should berelatively hydrophobic so as to retard wicking within the facing layer.

The diaper of this invention is normally packaged and sold'in a foldedcondition as shown in FIG. 3. Briefly, the side margins 12b and 16b ofthe impervious sheet 12 and the facing web 16, together with a portionof batt 14, are folded inwardly in a first fold to provide as theuppermost layer of the fold, a portion of the moisture-impervious sheet.This subassembly is then folded outwardly along each edge in a secondfold to cover the first folded portion and to expose the edge portion ofthe facing web as the upper layer of the double fold. In the preferredembodiments, each double fold at the edge of the diaper comprisesapproximately /3 of the resulting transverse dimension of the foldeddiaper, leaving approximately if; of the width of the folded diaper as acentral unfolded and uncovered portion.

The diaper is held in its folded condition by two small central spots ofadhesive applied between the main body of the diaper and the overlyingsides 16b of the facing web, one spot on each folded side of the diaper.When the diaper is to be put on the infant, the folds are opened on oneside of each of the adhesive spots, and the open portion of the diaperis put under the infants buttocks while the folded portion is raisedinto the crotch region. The final form of the diaper is shown inperspective on a reduced scale in FIG. 5 and the diaper is held in thisposition by the improved adhesive closure system of the presentinvention.

The first form of the adhesive system is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 andincludes outwardly facing adhesive areas 26 at opposite corners offacing layer 16 at the upper end 28 of the diaper, as shown in FIG. 1.Adhesive areas 26 are generally rectangularly shaped, and are parallelto one another and to the side edges 30 and 32 of the diaper. Theadhesive areas 26 are of equal size, and are substantially longer thanthey are wide. For example, each adhesive area 26 may be about 2 to 3inches long, and about to 1% inches wide.

With facing layers of the type described above including a mixture oflong and short fibers, in order to insure that the diaper will remain inplace, once secured around the torso of an infant, the adhesive areas 26are preferably provided by saturating opposite corners of the facinglayer 16 with a suitable adhesive material, so that the adhesivematerial is bonded to the backing sheet 12. The present inventioncontemplates that the adhesive material (which is pressure sensitive andreadily adherent to backing sheet 12) may be applied in a dispersionwith a suitable solvent, with a sufficient quantity of the dispersionbeing applied to the facing layer that the dispersion soaks completelythrough to the backing layer 12. The solvent may then be driven off byheating, to leave the adhesive area 26 exposed and facing outwardly ofthe facing layer 16,

' with the adhesive area being anchored to the backing sheet 12 by acolumn of adhesive material that extends through the cross-sectionalthickness of the facing layer 16. Release strips 36, which may be coatedplastic or paper members, cover each of the adhesive areas 26 until thediaper is ready to be applied to an infant, at which time the strips 36are readily removed from the adhesive areas.

The diaper is applied to the infant by positioning the ends 28 and 38 ofthe diaper around the waist of the infant with the intermediate portionof the diaper being disposed in the infants crotch. The ends 28 and 38may be fanned outwardly from the folded configuration illustrated inFIG. 3, and after the release strips 36 are removed, the diaper ends 28and 38 are pulled into tight fitting engagement with the infants waist.The adhesive areas 26 are then pressed against the adjacent portions ofthe backing sheet 12, and it will be understood that for a relativelysmall infant pressure is applied to substantially the entire length ofthe adhesive areas 26 to provide a snug closure around the infantsthighs, while for a larger infant pressure is applied to only a smallportion of the length of the adhesive areas 26 to provide the snugclosure. In either event, the closure is disposed within the interior ofthe diaper, in a protected location where it is not readily accessibleto the infant.

Instead of providing the adhesive areas 26 by an adhesive material thatis soaked into the facing layer 16, a strip of double faced adhesivetape 40 may be used as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Each strip 40 includes asuitable carrier 42, with tacky adhesive material 44 and 46 beingprovided on opposite faces thereof. As is clear from FIG. 4, the tackyface 44 of each strip is secured to the exposed surface of facing layer16 of diaper 10'. A release strip 48 is secured to each of the adhesivefaces 46, and can be readily removed when the diaper is to be used. Tapestrips 40 may be disposed in offset relationship with respect to thesideedges of the diaper, as shown in FIG. 2, or the tape strips may bepositioned completely within the confines of the diaper, in the positionshown in FIG. 1. In either event, in use the tacky faces 46 and the tapestrips 40 function in the same manner as adhesive areas 26, as describedabove, to provide variable length, hidden and protected closures.

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-layer diaper comprising: a lofty and foraminous fibrousfacing layer at one side of the diaper adapted to be brought intoengagement with an infants skin, said layer being porous to permitliquid to pass therethrough, said layer including a minimum of about 2percent of textile length fibers, said facing layer having a weight offrom about oz./yd. to about 5 oz./yd. and a density of from about 0.05to about 0.15 gm/cc., the fibers of said facing layer being arrangedinto fiber groups surrounding less dense portions of the facing layer; awater-impervious backing layer at the opposite side of said diaper fromsaid facing layer; means securing said layers in assembled relationshipto provide top and bottom edges adapted to be positioned around thewaist of the infant and side edges adapted to encircle the thighs of theinfant; means for securing said diaper in place around the infant, saidmeans being defined solely by first and second outwardly facing adhesiveareas on said fibrous facing layer, said adhesive areas each beingprovided by one of the tacky faces of a strip of double faced tape, theother of the tacky faces of said strips of double faced tape beingadhered to said fibrous facing layer, whereby when said diaper is placedon an infant said adhesive areas may be placed in overlappingrelationship with a corner of the backing layer for direct adhesionthereto to provide a closure that is within the confines of the diaper.

2. A diaper as set forth in claim I wherein said facing layer is formedof a polyester material.

3. A diaper as set forth in claim I wherein said adhesive areas have alength greater than the width thereof,

said areas being parallel with one another and with an adjacent sideedge of the diaper.

4. A diaper as set forth in claim 3 wherein said adhesive areas extendoutwardly beyond the adjacent side edges of the facing layer.

5. A diaper as set forth in claim 3 wherein said adhesive areas arespaced inwardly from the adjacent side edges of the facing layer.

6. A diaper as set forth in claim 3 wherein said adhesive areas are fromabout 2 to 3 inches long and from about A to l /2 inches wide.

7. A diaper as set forth in claim 1 wherein said facing layer is abonded web of mixed long and short fibers.

8. A multi-layer diaper comprising: a fibrous facing layer at one sideof the diaper adapted to be brought into engagement with an infantsskin, said layer being porous to permit liquid to pass therethrough; awaterimpervious backing layer at the opposite side of said diaper fromsaid facing layer; means securing said layers in assembled relationshipto provide top and bottom edges adapted to be positioned around thewaist of the infant and side edges adapted to encircle the thighs of theinfant; means for securing said diaper in place around the infant, saidmeans being defined solely by first and second outwardly facing adhesiveareas on said facing layer, said adhesive areas being provided by anadhesive material that is present throughout the thickness of the facinglayer and which is bonded to the backing layer, said adhesive areasbeing spaced inwardly of an adjacent side edge of the facing layer andeach having a length greater then the width thereof, said adhesive areasbeing parallel with one another and extending in a direction parallel tothe adjacent side edge of the facing layer; whereby when said diaper isplaced on an infant said adhesive areas may be placed in overlappingrelationship with a comer of the backing layer for direct adhesionthereto to provide a variable length closure that is within the confinesof the diaper.

9. A diaper as set forth in claim 8 wherein said facing layer is abonded web of mixed long and short fibers.

10. A multi-layer diaper comprising: a rectangularly shaped fibrousfacing layer adapted to be brought into engagement with an infants skin,said layer being a bonded web of mixed long and short fibers and saidlayer being porous to permit liquid to pass therethrough; an absorbentbatt layer positioned in face-toface juxtaposition with said facinglayer, said batt layer being smaller than said facing layer and centeredrelative thereto; a backing layer positioned in face-to-facejuxtaposition with said batt layer, said backing and facing layers beingof equal size and coterminous with one another, said backing layer beingsubstantially waterimpervious for retaining in said batt layer liquidabsorbed therewithin; means securing said layers in assembledrelationship to provide top and bottom edges adapted to be positionedaround the waist of the infant and side edges adapted to encircle thethighs of the infant; and means for securing said diaper in place aroundthe infant, said means being defined solely by first and secondoutwardly facing adhesive areas on said facing layer, said adhesiveareas being provided by an adhesive material that is present throughoutthe thickness of the facing layer and which is bonded to the backinglayer, said adhesive areas each having a length greater than the widththereof and extending in a direction parallel to the adjacent side edgeand parallel to one another; and a release strip removably secured toeach adhesive area, whereby when said release strips are removed andsaid diaper is placed on an infant said adhesive areas may be placed inoverlapping relationship with a corner of the backing layer for directadhesion thereto to provide a variable length closure that is within theconfines of the diaper.

11. A multi-layer diaper comprising: a fibrous facing layer at one sideof the diaper adapted to be brought into engagement with an infantsskin, said layer being porous to permit liquid to pass therethrough; awaterimpervious backing layer at the opposite side of said diaper fromsaid facing layer; means securing said layers in assembled relationshipto provide top and bottom edges adapted to be positioned around thewaist of the infant and side edges adapted to encircle the thighs of theinfant; means for securing said diaper in place around the infant, saidmeans being defined solely by first and second outwardly facing adhesiveareas on said fibrous facing layer, said adhesive areas being providedby an adhesive material that is present throughout the thickness of thefacing layer and which is bonded to the backing layer whereby when saiddiaper is placed on an infant said adhesive areas may be placed inoverlapping relationship with a corner of the backing layer for directadhesion thereto to provide a closure that is within the confines of thediaper.

12. A diaper as set forth in claim 1 1 wherein said adhesive areas havea length greater than the width thereof, said areas being parallel withone another and with an adjacent side edge of the diaper.

13. A diaper as set forth in claim 12 wherein said adhesive areas arefrom about 2 to 3 inches long and from about to 1% inches wide.

14. A diaper as set forth in claim 11 wherein said facing layer isformed of a polyester material.

15. A diaper as set forth in claim 11 wherein said facing layer is abonded web of mixed'long and short fibers.

16. A multi-layer diaper comprising: a rectangularly shaped facing layeradapted to be brought into engagement with an infants skin, said layerbeing porous to permit liquid to pass therethrough; an absorbent battlayer positioned in face-to-face juxtaposition with said facing layer,said batt layer being smaller than said facing layer and centeredrelative thereto; a backing layer positioned in face-to-facejuxtaposition with said batt layer, said backing and facing layers beingof equal size and coterminous with one another, said backing layer beingsubstantially water-impervious for retaining in said batt layer liquidabsorbed therewithin; means securing said layers in assembledrelationship to provide top and bottom edges adapted to be positionedaround the waist of the infant and side edges adapted to encircle thethighs of the infant; and means for securing said diaper in place aroundthe infant, said means being defined solely by first and secondoutwardly facing adhesive areas on said facing layer, said adhesiveareas being located in close adjacency to a corner of said facing layer;and a release strip removably secured to each adhesive area, wherebywhen said release strips are removed and said diaper is placed on aninfant said adhesive areas may be placed in overlapping relationshipwith a corner of the backing layer for direct adhesion thereto toprovide a closure that is within the confines of the diaper.

1. A MULTI-LAYER DIAPER COMPRISING: A LOFTY AND FORAMINOUS FIBROUSFACING LAYER AT ONE SIDE OF THE DIAPER ADAPTED TO BE BROUGHT INTOENGAGEMENT WITH AN INFANT''S SKIN, SAID LAYER BEING POROUS TO PERMITLIQUID TO PASS THERETHROUGH, SAID LAYER INCLUDING A MINIMUM OF ABOUT 2PERCENT OF TEXTILE LENGTH FIBERS, SAID FACING LAYER HAVING A WEIGHT OFFROM ABOUT 3/4 OZ./YD.2 TO ABOUT 5 OZ./YD.2 AND A DENSITY OF FROM ABOUT0.05 TO ABOUT 0.15 GM/CC/. THE FIBERS OF SAID FACING LAYER BEINGARRANGED INTO FIBER GROUPS SURROUNDING LESS DENSE PORTIONS OF THE FACINGLAYER; A WATER-IMPERVIOUS BACKING LAYER AT THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAIDDIAPER FROM SAID FACING LAYER; MEANS SECURING SAID LAYERS IN ASSEMBLEDRELATIONSHIP TO PROVIDE TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONEDAROUND THE WAIST OF THE INFANT AND SIDE EDGES ADAPTED TO ENCIRCLE THETHIGHS OF THE INFANT; MEANS FOR SECURRING SAID DIAPER IN PLACE AROUNDTHE INFANT, SAID MEANS BEING DEFINED SOLELY BY FIRST AND SECONDOUTWARDLY FACING ADHESIVE AREAS ON SAID FIBOROUS FACING LAYER, SAIDADHESIVE AREAS EACH BEING PROVIDED BY ONE OF THE TACKY FACES OF A STRIPOF DOUBLE FACED TAPE, THE OTHER OF THE TACKY FACES OF SAID STRIPS OFDOUBLE FACED TAPE BEING ADHERED TO SAID FIBORUS FACING LAYER, WHEREBYWHEN SAID DIAPER IS PLACED ON AN INFANT SAID ADHESIVE AREAS MAY BEPLACED IN OVERLAPPING RELATIONSHIP WITH A CORNER OF THE BACKING LAYERFOR DIRECT ADHESION THERETO TO PROVIDE A CLOSURE THAT IS WITHIN THECONFINES OF THE DIAPER.
 2. A diaper as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidfacing layer is formed of a polyester material.
 3. A diaper as set forthin claim 1 wherein said adhesive areas have a length greater than thewidth thereof, said areas being parallel with one another and with anadjacent side edge of the diaper.
 4. A diaper as set forth in claim 3wherein said adhesive areas extend outwardly beyond the adjacent sideedges of the facing layer.
 5. A diaper as set forth in claim 3 whereinsaid adhesive areas are spaced inwardly from the adjacent side edges ofthe facing layer.
 6. A diaper as set forth in claim 3 wherein saidadhesive areas are from about 2 to 3 inches long and from about 3/4 to 11/2 inches wide.
 7. A diaper as set forth in claim 1 wherein said facinglayer is a bonded web of mixed long and short fibers.
 8. A multi-layerdiaper comprising: a fibrous facing layer at one side of the diaperadapted to be brought into engagement with an infant''s skin, said layerbeing porous to permit liquid to pass therethrough; a water-imperviousbacking layer at the opposite side of said diaper from said facinglayer; means securing said layers in assembled relationship to providetop and bottom edges adapted to be positioned around the waist of theinfant and side edges adapted to encircle the thighs of the infant;means for securing said diaper in place around the infant, said meansbeing defined solely By first and second outwardly facing adhesive areason said facing layer, said adhesive areas being provided by an adhesivematerial that is present throughout the thickness of the facing layerand which is bonded to the backing layer, said adhesive areas beingspaced inwardly of an adjacent side edge of the facing layer and eachhaving a length greater then the width thereof, said adhesive areasbeing parallel with one another and extending in a direction parallel tothe adjacent side edge of the facing layer; whereby when said diaper isplaced on an infant said adhesive areas may be placed in overlappingrelationship with a corner of the backing layer for direct adhesionthereto to provide a variable length closure that is within the confinesof the diaper.
 9. A diaper as set forth in claim 8 wherein said facinglayer is a bonded web of mixed long and short fibers.
 10. A multi-layerdiaper comprising: a rectangularly shaped fibrous facing layer adaptedto be brought into engagement with an infant''s skin, said layer being abonded web of mixed long and short fibers and said layer being porous topermit liquid to pass therethrough; an absorbent batt layer positionedin face-to-face juxtaposition with said facing layer, said batt layerbeing smaller than said facing layer and centered relative thereto; abacking layer positioned in face-to-face juxtaposition with said battlayer, said backing and facing layers being of equal size andcoterminous with one another, said backing layer being substantiallywater-impervious for retaining in said batt layer liquid absorbedtherewithin; means securing said layers in assembled relationship toprovide top and bottom edges adapted to be positioned around the waistof the infant and side edges adapted to encircle the thighs of theinfant; and means for securing said diaper in place around the infant,said means being defined solely by first and second outwardly facingadhesive areas on said facing layer, said adhesive areas being providedby an adhesive material that is present throughout the thickness of thefacing layer and which is bonded to the backing layer, said adhesiveareas each having a length greater than the width thereof and extendingin a direction parallel to the adjacent side edge and parallel to oneanother; and a release strip removably secured to each adhesive area,whereby when said release strips are removed and said diaper is placedon an infant said adhesive areas may be placed in overlappingrelationship with a corner of the backing layer for direct adhesionthereto to provide a variable length closure that is within the confinesof the diaper.
 11. A multi-layer diaper comprising: a fibrous facinglayer at one side of the diaper adapted to be brought into engagementwith an infant''s skin, said layer being porous to permit liquid to passtherethrough; a water-impervious backing layer at the opposite side ofsaid diaper from said facing layer; means securing said layers inassembled relationship to provide top and bottom edges adapted to bepositioned around the waist of the infant and side edges adapted toencircle the thighs of the infant; means for securing said diaper inplace around the infant, said means being defined solely by first andsecond outwardly facing adhesive areas on said fibrous facing layer,said adhesive areas being provided by an adhesive material that ispresent throughout the thickness of the facing layer and which is bondedto the backing layer whereby when said diaper is placed on an infantsaid adhesive areas may be placed in overlapping relationship with acorner of the backing layer for direct adhesion thereto to provide aclosure that is within the confines of the diaper.
 12. A diaper as setforth in claim 11 wherein said adhesive areas have a length greater thanthe width thereof, said areas being parallel with one another and withan adjacent side edge of the diaper.
 13. A diaper as set forth in claim12 wherein said adhesive areas are from about 2 to 3 inches Long andfrom about 3/4 to 1 1/2 inches wide.
 14. A diaper as set forth in claim11 wherein said facing layer is formed of a polyester material.
 15. Adiaper as set forth in claim 11 wherein said facing layer is a bondedweb of mixed long and short fibers.
 16. A multi-layer diaper comprising:a rectangularly shaped facing layer adapted to be brought intoengagement with an infant''s skin, said layer being porous to permitliquid to pass therethrough; an absorbent batt layer positioned inface-to-face juxtaposition with said facing layer, said batt layer beingsmaller than said facing layer and centered relative thereto; a backinglayer positioned in face-to-face juxtaposition with said batt layer,said backing and facing layers being of equal size and coterminous withone another, said backing layer being substantially water-impervious forretaining in said batt layer liquid absorbed therewithin; means securingsaid layers in assembled relationship to provide top and bottom edgesadapted to be positioned around the waist of the infant and side edgesadapted to encircle the thighs of the infant; and means for securingsaid diaper in place around the infant, said means being defined solelyby first and second outwardly facing adhesive areas on said facinglayer, said adhesive areas being located in close adjacency to a cornerof said facing layer; and a release strip removably secured to eachadhesive area, whereby when said release strips are removed and saiddiaper is placed on an infant said adhesive areas may be placed inoverlapping relationship with a corner of the backing layer for directadhesion thereto to provide a closure that is within the confines of thediaper.